Assess_the_Role_Played_by_Spartan_Women_Within_Their_Society

Assess the role played by Spartan women within their society. Women of Sparta were aware of their role in society in regards to staying healthy and fit to produce healthy offspring as well as partaking in the running of the economy. According to Aristotle, “the women dominated the men which is not good in a military state”, however, they were treated with respect, as they were an essential element in the ancient warrior society. They were involved in prominent positions within the Spartan society such as education, family and religion. It was thought that Spartan women lead unusual lives by Greek standards. The Spartan society expected the women to give birth to healthy sons who would grow up to be soldiers for Sparta. Traditional roles for women were inexistent in Sparta seeing as they thought such menial tasks were meant for the helots – state owned slaves, instead the most important role played by the women was to bear their children. In order to guide the offspring with patriotism, the mother had to have the correct attitude herself. A Spartan woman would rear her son(s) according to the customs and expectations of their state and society. They were proud of their role within Sparta seeing as they shaped the new generations of citizens that were to defend their polis. Especially women who gave birth to strong and healthy sons, they felt superior to other women and felt self-righteousness. This implies that women with strong sons were strong themselves because it was believed that only strong and healthy Spartan women were to produce such strong offspring. Within Sparta, women played a major role in encouraging patriotism by sacrificing the men whom they loved. It was thought that, women cried tears of joy over the bleeding bodies of their wounded husband and sons for they had died in honour by fighting for their beloved polis. They took pride in the bravery that had led the men to death and were expected not to mourn for their absence. If a son came home without his shield, the mother would feel disgraced and therefore her role as a mother within the Spartan society would not have been ‘fulfilled’, the son’s act of cowardice and dishonour to Sparta meant respect was immediately lost. Spartan women also had a great deal of influence and power on Sparta’s economy. While the men were at war or at the agoge (Spartiate training program), they replaced their roles and became responsible for running Sparta. Seeing as women were expected to take up the role of males, Spartan women were well educated and brought up in an orderly fashion to become proper mothers for the state and to manage kleroi (state owned property) as well as partaking in religious festivals. As Spartan boys were surrendered to the agoge, Spartan women remained at home and taught girls how to read and write, as well as organising bands for team games and choral singing. Girls also learned and trained gymnastics and athletics, they were encouraged to mix and train with the Spartan men and enter sporting competitions to get fit and strong – the most favourable trait in Sparta. During physical training, it was thought that men would choose the strongest woman and marry her seeing as if both parents were strong then it was more likely to give birth to a strong and healthy baby which was of great importance to the Spartan society. Growing up with a sense of independence and individuality, it wasn’t a surprise among the Spartan society for women to be held responsible for the management of kleroi. The kleroi would be inherited by the wives and mothers of Sparta to raise their sons who would eventually also inherit the kleroi. This means that the women had the role of controlling the family’s wealth which affected the entire Spartan agricultural economy, therefore, it depicts the amount of power the women had on the economy as well as Sparta in general. Due to these heavy responsibilities it can be seen that the women of Sparta played a major role within the Spartan society compared to the other Greek cities. With the absence of men, it had allowed the women to become independent and strong emotionally as well as physically. The role played by Spartan women within their society displays the importance of their presence among their community. Expectations also influence the women of Sparta to follow the society’s values and attitudes towards their military-driven city. In comparison to other Greek cities, Spartan women played an essential role within their society in regards to staying healthy and fit to produce healthy offspring as well as partaking in the running of the economy which would have been seen as unusual.